Maybe this is cheating for the gallery, you guys tell me. I built this kit from test grade Keller 6-ply shells because they're the same ply count and thickness as 60's Jasper shells. The whole thing is done to 60's bop kit specs.
All hardware is vintage Gretsch, with the exception of the floor tom rims (modern generic), the spur heads (vintage MIJ), and bolts for the floor tom brackets. This includes every tension rod, washer and screw. The bass drum badge is a reproduction I had made. 60's bearing edges, of course.
I tried to take every possible measure to make the kit look authentic. This included dry brushing the interiors silver and roughing them up to look old, lightly staining the bearing edges for an aged appearance, and reusing the 22" moth-eaten felt on the Pratt muffler I had.
I still have some perfecting to do, getting or making faux paper tags, getting 14" Gretsch rims and making a snare. Eventually the only tell that it's not a rewrapped original bop kit should be that the shells aren't oversized. Though if the wrap is taken off all the layout markings are there.
Played them last night for the first time. I've never owned a real bop kit to compare to, but these do sound great!
